New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘IMGZ0008’

ABSTRACT

A New Guinea  Impatiens  plant named ‘IMGZ0008’ particularly distinguished by the sharp pattern of the Red Star on the flower on short peduncles on a medium sized well branched plant with deep dark green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Impatienshawkeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘IMGZ0008’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new New Guinea Impatiens, botanicallyknown as Impatiens hawkeri, and hereinafter referred to by the varietyname ‘IMGZ0008’.

‘IMGZ0008’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivarhas large, flat flowers with a relatively sharp Red Star pattern.Between the Red Star, the spaces are light pink colored. The foliage isvery deep dark green with light red veins on the upper and lower side ofthe leaf. The space between the leaf veins on the upper and lower sideis reddish. The plant is medium sized and well branched.

‘IMGZ0008’ originated from a hybridization made in June 2005 in acontrolled breeding environment in Hillscheid, Germany.

The female parent is designated as ‘K07-8559-1’ and has a red flowercolor and a compact habit. The male parent is designated as ‘K07-8549-1’and is large sized and has a purple star flower pattern.

The resultant seed was sown in November 2005 in a greenhouse inMoncarapacho, Portugal and ‘IMGZ0008’ was selected there as oneflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in spring 2006.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘IMGZ0008’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection inJune 2006 in a controlled environment in Moncarapacho, Portugal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in March 2007 in Hillscheid, Germany and continuing thereafterin Enkhuizen The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for ‘IMGZ0008’ are firmly fixed andare retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘IMGZ0008’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature and light intensity.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for.‘IMGZ0008’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effectivefiling date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that mayhave been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date ofthis application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘IMGZ0008’directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Impatiens as a new and distinctvariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘IMGZ0008’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type. The photographic drawings show a close-upof the flowers and a flowering plant of the new variety growing in 12 cmpot.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs were taken in October 2015 from plantsgrown in a greenhouse trial in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. These plantswere growing in 12 cm pots and were approximately 15 weeks of age.

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in October 2015 on 17week old plants growing in a greenhouse in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.Cuttings were stuck in week 25 for rooting, planted into 12 cm pots inweek 29, and were grown, without pinching, on benches in a greenhouse,initially at a day temperature of 18° C. and night temperature of 16° C.However, day temperatures often raised above 18° C.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘IMGZ0008’ AND SIMILARPATENTED VARIETIES JP497 (‘Sonic Sweet JN777 (‘Sonic ‘IMGZ0008’ Orange’)Sweet Cherry’) Flower color: Red Star Orange Star Red/White, no starFlower pattern: Sharp Very sharp Not sharp Habit/vigor: Medium SmallSmall Branching: More Less Less

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Medium sized, mounded, well            branched.        -   Plant height.—21.0 cm (without pot), 30 cm (with pot).        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—20.0-22.0 cm (without            pot).        -   Plant width.—35.0 cm.-   Roots:    -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—7 days at about 22 degrees            C.        -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—15-18 days at 22            degrees C.        -   Type.—Fibrous, free branching.        -   Color.—RHS 159A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Simple leaves, mainly in whorls.        -   Young leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 135A.        -   Young leaf, color lower surface.—Closest RHS 187A.        -   Mature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 136A.        -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—Closest to RHS 187A.        -   Length.—Up to 15.0 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 4.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Base shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate, with short bristles.        -   Texture.—Slightly waxy and glossy on the upper surface,            glabrous on both surfaces.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 45C.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 187A.        -   Petiole color, upper side.—RHS 45C.        -   Petiole color, lower side.—RHS 187A.        -   Length.—Up to 2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 61B.        -   Length of stem.—About 10-16 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5-1.0 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—Approximately 2 to 6 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Number of branches.—6 main branches plus 6-8 side branches            per main branch.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 134B.        -   Length of peduncle.—1.5-4.0 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.3-0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Continuous flowering from late spring            through fall.        -   Type of inflorescence.—Solitary flowers emerge from the            upper leaf nodes of the stem.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1-3 open flowers and additional            buds in various stages of development.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—6 open flowers plus 25-30            (big and small) buds (12 cm pot plant in October).        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 6-9            days.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Bud (just before opening):    -   -   Color.—RHS 39A.        -   Length.—Up to 2 cm.        -   Width.—Up to 1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.-   Immature flowers:    -   -   Color of petals, upper surface.—RHS N30A +RHS 75B.        -   Color of petals, lower surface.—RHS 39B.-   Mature flowers:    -   -   Flower, vertical length.—7 cm.        -   Flower, horizontal width.—7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—1.5-2.0 cm.        -   Color of petals, upper surface.—RHS 34A (Star color) and RHS            75B (space color between Star).        -   Color of petals, lower surface.—RHS 39A.        -   Petal shape.—Heart shaped.        -   Petal apex shape.—Broadly obcordate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal texture, upper surface.—Papillose.        -   Petal texture, lower surface.—Papillose.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—One large sepal bearing the spur, 2 small,            lateral sepals, and 1 fused keel.        -   Large sepal(s).—Color, visible surface: RHS 50C on both            sides.        -   Length.—1.9 cm.        -   Width.—1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex shape.—Aristate.        -   Base.—Fused with the spur.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillose.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Papillose.        -   Lateral sepals.—Color of surface: RHS 41B on both sides.        -   Length.—1.3 cm.        -   Width.—0.6-0.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous.        -   Keel color.—From RHS 46A to more brownish tones, closest to            RHS 185A.-   Spur:    -   -   Color.—RHS 144C.        -   Length.—4.5-4.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm at the base, 0.1 cm at tip.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—5 stamen, fused with the anthers hooded.        -   Diameter of androeceum.—0.7 cm.        -   Surface color.—RHS N57B, fading towards margin.        -   Pollen amount.—Plenty.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 8D.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistil.—One, elongate.        -   Pistil length.—0.6 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS N57B.        -   Ovary color.—Dark brown, RHS 183A to RHS 144B (green).        -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been observed on this hybrid.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been observed on this            hybrid. However, it is known for Impatiens New Guinea that            it is downy mildew resistant.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New GuineaImpatiens plant named ‘IMGZ0008’ substantially as illustrated anddescribed herein.